goodwin



(No Model.)

0. H. GOQDWIN. MUSICAL KEY INDICATOR.

N0. 337,320. P Patented Mar. 2,, 1886.

iNvENTnR,

. UN ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER H. GOODWVIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ERASTUS CAS\VELL, OF SAME PLACE.

MUSICAL-KEY INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,320, dated March 2. 1886.

Application filed March 18, 1884.

To aZZ whom/it may concern:

' Beit known that I, OLIVER HUBBARD Goon- WIN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in the city and county ofSan Francisco, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Musical-Key Indicator,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in musical-key indicators where the staff is arranged upon a circular card, over which an indicating-card is revolved upon a common center, and where a pointing plate or bar is pivoted upon the same common center and has a projecting point to indicate the major or minor key.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan view of the musical-key indicator entire in all its parts; Fig. 2, a plan view of the lower card, H, showing the staff with the signatures and the letters of the scale and the key-notes. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the pointer-plate for determining as to the key, whether major or minor; and Fig. 4 is an edge View ofthe same, showing the rivet which forms the pivot by which it is attached and operated between the cards H and I.

Thefollowing is the construction of the same: I form the cards H and I and pointing-plate J, K, L, M, and N of paper or any other suitable sheet material for stamping or printing the figures and characters reduired upon its face. Upon the card H, at its outer edge, I arrange the letters representing the key-notes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a view to its operation in connection with the upper card, I, as will be more fully explained. The holes R, S, T, V, IV, X, Y, and Z, arranged concentrically in the card I, are spaced to correspond with the notes in the major and minor scales. This arrangement shows the pupil at once what is usually taught with difficultyi. 6., the intervals between the notes of the scale. The inner circle of letters (naturals) are arranged on the card H in groups of two, in order to correspond with the sharps and flats, as (1H1, and Ab require to be shown separately, although really but one note. The signatures of the keys are arranged directly under each major key-note. When the minor key-note is re- Serial No. 124,665. (No model.)

ferred to, the signature will be found under the relative major key-note. The signature in all cases appears through the opening Q. A projecting part (upon the card I) is provided with the opening P, through which the major key-note appears, as will be shown.

The following is the operation of my improved musical-key indicatorz Having decided upon the key required-say C maj or, as arranged in Fig. 1-0, the key-note, appears through the opening P. Only the clef appears on the staff through the opening Q, showing that it is the natural key,without any sharps or flats in the signature, the pointer K of the major and minor key indicator J, K, L, M, and N being moved opposite the word Major, thus covering Glq with the plate J of the indicator. The letters of the scale in key of C major appear in their regular order and correctly spaced, as shown, beginning with C over the figure 1, D over 2, and so on around to C again, completing the scale. At the same time A appears through the opening Y as the relative minor key-note, and has the number 1 over A, 2 over B, and so on, showing that the notes are numbered around in the same direction as the major scale, and showing the exact intervals of whole tones and halftones. In this position the key-indicator will read key of A minor, relative key of C major. Now, to read the key of A minor, move the pointer to the word Minor on the card I without disturbing the relative position of the cards H and I, and commencing at minor key-note 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A, read A, B, C, D, E, F, G 5, and A,which are arranged to show the intervals as they occur in the minor scale. All other keys used in music may be found in the same manner. In each position the relative major and minor keys are given.

The object of my invention is to teach the construction of musical keys and intervals as they occur in music; also to show the notes required to be sharped or flatted in transposing. It is also designed to assist the memory of those advanced in music.

It will be readily understood that rectaugu= lar cards may be constructed with the same openings and spaces to be moved in a direct line and expose the required key; but that is too a far less portable device, and not nearly so convenient of use.

Other keys than those shown may be addedfor instance Cit but it is considered unnecessary, as what is shown fully explains my invention.

I do not confine myself to the exact construction or arrangement of the parts composing my musical-key indicator, as they may be somewhat varied as to size or form without changing the principle of the invention.

This device may be attached and operated ing the openings R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, and Z, the opening Q, the projection marked with the opening 1?, with the words Key ofminor, relative key of major in any curved or straight line, crossing and referring to the letters shown through the openings Y and R, in

combination with the card H, having the letters 0, D D, El E, F, F, G1 G, A'g, A, By, and B at the outer edge, spaced as shown, the staff showing the signatures arranged concenthe outer letters, and the letters 0, O, Cfi, Dp, D, D, D11, Eb, E. E, F, F, Ffi, Gb, G, G, Gfi, Ab, A, A, A5,, Bb, B, and Cb arranged within the circle of the staff concentrically with the pivot N, and the major and minor key indicator composed of the pointer K, the upper plate, L, the guide-groove M, the bar J, and pivot N, for the purpose set forth.

OLIVER H. GOODWIN.

Witnesses:

E. H. THARP, W. J. 'GURNETT, Jr.

..trically with the pivot N, within the circle of 5 

